Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Delichita’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Chita’, characterized by its incurved decorative-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets; vigorous growth habit; early flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Delichita’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andreferred to by the name ‘Delichita’.

The new Chrysanthemum is the product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous cutChrysanthemum cultivars with interesting inflorescence forms andattractive floret coloration.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination on Mar. 26,2001 in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands, of the Chrysanthemum×morifoliumcultivar Zembla, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,052, as the female,or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection ofChrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 8774, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in 's Gravenzande,The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands since May 15,2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Delichita has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Delichita’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Delichita’as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Large incurved decorative-type inflorescences with        white-colored ray florets; typically grown as a disbud-type.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Early flowering response.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity.    -   5. Relatively tolerant to low temperature conditions.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Zembla. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in 'sGravenzande, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differedfrom plants of the cultivar Zembla in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences        than plants of the cultivar Zembla.    -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more        incurved than ray florets of plants of the cultivar Zembla.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were best grown as        disbud-types whereas plants of the cultivar Zembla were best        grown as spray-types.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in 'sGravenzande, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differedfrom plants of the male parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more vigorous than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger leaves than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered earlier than plants        of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Tatyana, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 11/119,064. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemumdiffered primarily from plants of the cultivar Tatyana in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more vigorous than        plants of the cultivar Tatyana.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had broader leaves with        longer leaf petioles than plants of the cultivar Tatyana.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences        than plants of the cultivar Tatyana.    -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more        incurved than ray florets of plants of the cultivar Tatyana.    -   5. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum did not “pink”        under low temperature conditions whereas ray florets of plants        of the cultivar Tatyana “pinked” under low temperature        conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering stem of ‘Delichita’.

The photograph in the middle of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Delichita’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of thelower and upper surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Delichita’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the summer in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands, undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initiallygiven long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long nighttreatments to induce flower initiation and development. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averages 20° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were grown as disbud-types and wereabout ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar    Delichita.-   Commercial classification: Incurved decorative-type Chrysanthemum    typically grown as a disbud-type cut flower.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar            Zembla, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,052.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 8774, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 5 days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 6 days at 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 12 days at            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 14 days at            18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous incurved decorative-type cut            Chrysanthemum; typically grown as a disbud-type; erect and            strong flowering stems.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate; vigorous.        -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 80 to 90 cm.            Diameter: About 9 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect.            Color: 146C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About            10.5 to 14 cm. Width: About 8 to 9 cm. Apex: Cuspidate.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Pinnately lobed. Texture, upper and            lower surface: Pubescent; rough. Petiole length: About 2 to            3.5 cm. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: 147A.            Developing foliage, lower surface: Between 137B and 147B.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137A. Fully expanded            foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper and lower            surface: 146C. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces: 146C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Incurved decorative-type inflorescence form with            lanceolate to oblong-shaped ray florets. Large            inflorescences borne on terminals above foliage. Disk and            ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.            Inflorescences not fragrant. Typically grown as a            disbud-type.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants            typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At            other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and            development can be induced under short day/long night            conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed            to long day/short night conditions after planting followed            by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower            about 49 days later. Early and uniform flowering response.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain            good substance and form for about 3.5 weeks.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—Grown as a            disbud-type, only one inflorescence per flowering stem is            allowed to develop. Grown as a spray-type, about eight to            eleven inflorescences develop.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 14 to 15 cm. Depth            (height): About 4 to 4.5 cm. Diameter of disc: About 2 mm.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.5 cm. Diameter:            About 1.2 to 1.5 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 137C.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 6.5 to 7 cm. Width: About 2.2 to            2.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to oblong. Apex: Rounded or            emarginate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number of ray            florets per inflorescence: About 230 in numerous whorls.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 155A. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Lighter then 155D; towards            the base, 144C.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular. Length: About 5 mm. Width:            About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About            five. Color: Apex: N144B. Mid-section: 20B. Base: 145D.        -   Peduncles (when grown as spray-types).—Length, terminal            peduncle: About 3 to 4 cm. Length, fourth peduncle: About 4            to 5 cm. Diameter: About 6 to 7 mm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 147B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Anther color: Close to 9A. Pollen color: Close to 9A.            Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma            size: About 0.5 mm by 7 mm. Stigma color: Towards the apex,            151C; towards the base, close to 144C.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pests and    pathogens has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerates temperatures from 14° C. to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Delichita’,as illustrated and described.